Major Payne

For the webcomic character named Major Payne, see VG Cats.

Major Payne
cinematic poster
Directed by	Nick Castle
Produced by	Harry Tatelman Damon Wayans
Written by	Joe Connelly Bob Mosher
Starring	Damon Wayans Karyn Parsons William Hickey Michael Ironside Albert Hall Orlando Brown Steven Martini
Music by	Craig Safan
Cinematography	Richard Bowen
Editing by	Patrick Kennedy
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	March 24, 1995 (1995-03-24)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Major Payne is a 1995 comedy film, starring Damon Wayans. The film is a loose remake of the 1955 film The Private War of Major Benson, starring Charlton Heston.

While generally receiving unfavorable reviews, the movie has become a cult favorite, especially with JROTC/Civil Air Patrol cadet programs.

Plot

United States Marine Corps Major Benson Winifred Payne (Damon Wayans), a hardened Marine, returns from a violent but successful drug raid in South America, only to find out that he has again been denied his long-hoped-for promotion to the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. Instead, Payne receives an honorable discharge on the grounds that "the wars of the world are no longer fought on the battlefield", and that his killing skills are no longer needed.

After leaving the military, Payne finds life as a civilian unbearable, and within days reaches his breaking point. To help adjust, he applies for a job as a police officer. However, during the test to see how applicants handle domestic violence disputes, he "neutralizes" the "abusive husband" by knocking him unconscious. Payne is jailed on charges of assault. His former General visits him in prison and informs Payne that he has managed to secure a military job for him.

Payne arrives at Madison Preparatory School in Virginia, and is informed by the principal (William Hickey) that his job is to train the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. These "green boys" (as the principal calls them) are a disorderly group of delinquents and outcasts who have placed last in the Virginia Military Games eight years running. When Payne sees his company, he declares his intention that they will win the Games at all costs, and immediately sets about establishing order and discipline, making no exceptions for various handicaps that the cadets have (deafness, obesity, heart conditions, etc.). His punishment methods cause him to clash with Emily Walburn (Karyn Parsons), the School's counselor. Walburn tries to make Payne more empathetic, particularly towards six-year old orphan Tiger (Orlando Brown), but without much success.

Chafing under Payne's iron hand, the cadets make a series of attempts to get back at Payne, or force him to leave. Some of the schemes include giving him a laxative-loaded cupcake, attempting to portray Payne in a photo sleeping with one of the boys, and hiring a biker to beat up Payne. None of the cadets' plots succeed, and many of them backfire.

Things come to a head when Payne offers to leave if they bring him the Military Games trophy. The cadets assume he means for them to steal the trophy from rival Wellington Academy, and they attempt to do so. However, Payne places an anonymous call to Wellington, leading to the boys' being ambushed by Wellington cadets before they can collect the trophy.

The next day, Payne is confronted by lead misfit Alex Stone (Steven Martini) about the sabotaged trophy mission, but Payne tells him it was not about fair or unfair, but about achieving the objective. Payne asks Stone if he wants the trophy, and Stone replies that he does. Payne then tells Stone that he will show him how to earn it, and starts training the cadets for the games. Finding motivation in the prospect of winning the trophy and of finally being rid of Payne, the cadets throw themselves into Payne's grueling training program.

Payne begins to earn some grudging respect from the corps by saving Stone from his abusive stepfather (Michael Ironside), and saving Tiger from his nightmares, via shooting the "boogey man" in the closet and proclaiming, "If he's still in there, he sure ain't happy"

The day before the Games, the corps is in good form and ready for the competition. However, Payne's former General arrives with a request for Payne to return to the Marines to fight in Bosnia. His proposed deployment means he will miss the Military Games. This has a demoralizing effect on the corps, but they decide to compete anyway.

Payne initially follows his orders and sets off for his new engagement. But as he waits for his train, he has a vision of himself with Walburn and Tiger, barbecuing in the front yard of their dream home. He realizes that his desire to be with Walburn and Tiger is greater than his desire to return to military action. Aborting his mission, Payne heads back to see the Games, as well as Walburn and Tiger.

At the Games, the Madison Corps are holding their own until one of Madison's former cadets ( Dotson ) that left the school earlier, intentionally trips Stone during a race, injuring Stone's leg. Stone manages to get to his feet and hobble across the finish line, finishing in second place. This foul play sparks an all-out brawl between the teams that threatens to get them disqualified. Payne arrives at the last minute and sticks up for his team. Because Stone is injured and out of the competition, Payne appoints young Tiger to lead the drill. The group executes an unorthodox but entertaining routine which wins them the trophy. Stone is personally awarded the Individual Cadet Achievement trophy.

Three months later, on the first day of the new school year, Payne has resumed being an instructor, with Stone as squad leader. When a new blind cadet taunts Payne, Payne proceeds to shave him – and his seeing-eye dog – bald with his field knife. The film fades out to the sound of Payne's laughter.

Production

• The exterior scenes of the boarding school in Major Payne were filmed at The Miller School of Albemarle.
• Most of the indoor scenes were filmed in a warehouse that was turned into a soundstage owned by 84 Lumber located in Chesterfield County just off of US RT 1, about 2 miles south of the Richmond City line.
• The opening scene was filmed just outside of the makeshift soundstage.
• The fantasy scene at the train station was filmed at the Ashland Train Station, in Ashland, Virginia.
• Orlando Brown had an onset teacher/tutor during production. She was also the onset teacher for Benji Gregory as Brian Tanner of the TV Show Alf.
• During production, filming had to be stopped throughout the day due to CSX trains passing the soundstage.
• The Military Games Scenes were filmed at Berkley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia.
• There was an alternate ending for the movie. During the Military Games, Cadet Stone's drunken father gets into a fight with Payne. Somehow, he takes 4 cadets from another school hostage. Stone and the cadets (one of whom was named Cadet Rachmil after one of the producers, and was played by Ryan Scarbrough) were taken to a small building that was used to shoot at the cadets and onlookers.
• Dean Lorey (co-wrote the screenplay) stated on deanlorey.com that to his knowledge there is no Special Edition in the works.

Cast

• Damon Wayans as Major Benson Winifred Payne
• Karyn Parsons as Emily Walburn
• Steven Martini as Cadet Alex J. Stone
• Michael Ironside as Lt. Col. Stone
• Orlando Brown as Cadet Kevin "Tiger" Dunn
• Albert Hall as General Decker
• Andrew Harrison Leeds as Cadet Dotson
• Damien Wayans as Cadet Dwight "D." Williams
• Chris Owen as Cadet Wuligar
• Stephen Coleman as Cadet Leland
• Mark Madison as Cadet Fox
• Peyton Chesson-Fohl as Cadet Sgt. Johnson
• Bam Bam Bigelow as a Biker (credited as Scott Bigelow)

Reception

Movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has rated the film at 27 out of 100 based on 11 reviews.

External links

• Major Payne at the Internet Movie Database
• Major Payne at AllRovi